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Service Diversions 06-20-11

Posted by
on June 20th, 2011 at 5:01 am

I have just updated the Service Diversions by removing all of the weekend work that wrapped up by a minute ago. The planned work for this week & beyond in some cases has been moved to the forefront.

I suggest printing out a copy before heading to your destination. If you have an internet capable handheld device, you can use it to access the mobile version of this site. The next update will be sometime on Thursday or Friday after I received the planned weekend diversions from the MTA directly.

While out riding the subway, if I come across any changes or worthwhile service information, I will post it on Twitter so follow me @TransitBlogger

As always, stay safe & have a wonderful week.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Service Diversions 06-16-11

Posted by
on June 16th, 2011 at 5:17 pm

I have just updated the Service Diversions with the latest planned work for the upcoming weekend, next week, & beyond (in some cases).

Metro-North Railroad riders who use the Pascack Valley line, please be aware that buses will replace trains due to construction. Click here for complete information.

For those using services near or plan on attending this weekend’s annual Mermaid Parade in Coney Island, read this entry for service advisory information.

As always, I suggest printing out a copy before heading to your destination. If you have an internet capable handheld device, use it to access Transit Blogger’s mobile site.

While out traveling, if I notice or hear any changes, I will update them on the twitter feed so don’t forget to follow @TransitBlogger today!

The next update will be at 5:01 AM Monday when all weekend work will be removed.

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Service Diversions
0

Mermaid Parade Service Advisory

Posted by
on June 16th, 2011 at 5:14 pm

This upcoming Saturday, the annual Mermaid Parade in Coney Island will be taking place. MTA NYC Transit issued a service advisory earlier today:

The annual Mermaid Parade will be held this Saturday, June 18 on Coney Island from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The best way to reach the ocean-themed celebration is by the D, F, Q or N train to Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue.

We remind customers that Coney Island-bound D trains will be operating on the N line from 36th Street to Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue this weekend due to structural repair/station rehabilitation from 71st Street to Bay 50th Street and ADA work at Bay Parkway.

The parade begins at West 21st Street and Surf Avenue and wends its way to West 10th Street and the Boardwalk, ending at Stillwell Avenue. Bus routes that may be affected by street closures and crowds are: B36, B68, B74 and B82.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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MetroCard Claims Now Available Online

Posted by
on June 14th, 2011 at 3:30 pm

If you are a regular rider of the NYC Subway, at one point or another you have had issues with a MetroCard. The problem might have been serious enough that you had to file a claim & if so, I don’t need to tell you how much of an annoying process that can be.

However some good news is here in terms of MetroCard claims, as they now can be done online. Here are complete details courtesy of a press release sent out a short time ago:

“Wow, this is easy.” Those are probably words you never thought you’d hear while filing a MetroCard claim, but now customers experiencing MetroCard problems can easily access assistance quickly via the internet using MetroCard eFIX – a new processing system that eliminates the hassles and delays associated with filing the claims by mail or phone.

Bus and subway riders make millions of MetroCard transactions each day and the occasional problem will occur. Now, there is an easier way to get the problem corrected. MetroCard eFIX allows customers to use the internet when addressing many MetroCard issues, including: lost or stolen reduced-fare MetroCards, transfer problems, an overcharge, problems with a Select Bus Service fare collector, a MetroCard not returned by a bus farebox, and certain MetroCard Vending Machine incidents.

“The introduction of eFIX is yet another example of how the MTA is working to make things more convenient for our customers. From countdown clocks, to BusTime, to a website filled with real information that our customers can use, we are constantly working to be responsive to the needs of our customers.” said NYC Transit President Thomas F. Prendergast.

“MetroCard eFIX is part of our commitment to provide better customer service via our website through self-service applications,” said Paul J. Fleuranges, Sr. Director of Corporate and Internal Communications. “Customers can now file a MetroCard claim, a Lost & Found claim, and request a Delay Verification all on line on their time instead of having to send in a letter or make a phone call.”

Each day, MetroCard Claims receives approximately 1,400 claims. These numbers increase during special promotions, seasonal travel, fare adjustments and system-wide issues that impact MetroCard usage.

Customers can now benefit from the ability to submit claims immediately and around the clock which contributes to a faster response time. eFIX claims are verified while being entered, which results in increased accuracy. Additionally, when customers contact a representative at our Travel Information/Customer Service Center, they can submit an eFIX request over the telephone. Claims status is now available online. But that’s not all; in the near future look for further eFix enhancements.

The eFIX program was developed in house by programmers in NYC Transit’s Internet Technologies Group, who also developed a new database for customer claims information. The web pages were designed by the Marketing & Service Information Division.

This is good news for MetroCard users although it begs the question, why was such a system not in place years ago? It is not like the MetroCard is new technology or available for use by riders. With the agency looking to retire the use of it in the coming years, is this a common sense perk that is too little, too late?

xoxo Transit Blogger

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0

New Metro-North Timetables Effective June 27th

Posted by
on June 13th, 2011 at 3:29 pm

Just a few minutes ago, the MTA Metro-North Railroad announced new timetables that will take effect on June 27th. Despite budget issues, the agency has added extra service on the Hudson Line & additional holiday weekend trains on the New Haven Line. Here are the complete details courtesy of the press release I received:

MTA Metro-North Railroad is introducing new timetables on Monday, June 27 that include some additional service on the Hudson Line and extra holiday weekend trains on the New Haven Line.

On the Hudson Line:

Two Poughkeepsie trains that now make some stops south of Croton-Harmon will run express after Croton-Harmon to speed the trip and alleviate any possibility of crowding. In conjunction with this change there will be two new trains that originate at Croton-Harmon to make the stops that have been eliminated from the Poughkeepsie trains. (Stops have been added at Dobbs Ferry and Hastings for a little more frequency at those stations.)

On weekdays, the 2:40 PM and 5:40 PM trains from Poughkeepsie will operate express from Croton-Harmon to Grand Central, saving customers as much as 8 minutes of travel time.

The new trains from Croton-Harmon will depart at 3:37 PM and 6:37 PM, stopping at Ossining, Tarrytown, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings-on-Hudson, Yonkers, Marble Hill, and Harlem-125th Street. Both these trains previously were moved empty, so there is no cost associated with their operation in passenger service.

There also will be a new inbound weekend express. The 7:40 PM train from Poughkeepsie will operate express from Croton-Harmon to Grand Central, saving up to 8 minutes of travel time. To cover the stops eliminated from the Poughkeepsie train, a new 8:39 PM train will run from Croton-Harmon to Grand Central, making stops at Ossining, Tarrytown, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings- on-Hudson, Yonkers, Marble Hill, and Harlem-125th Street. This equipment previously was moved empty, so there is no cost associated with its operation in passenger service.

Metro-North’s popular and convenient Hudson Rail Link bus service to the Riverdale train station is expanding with a new bus stop at the Hebrew Home for the Aged to give their employees better options for commuting to work as well as offering visitors a new travel option.

The Rail Link’s “A” route will include a new stop at Palisades Avenue and 261st Street at the Home. Initially the service will operate from the station to the Home during the AM and back to the station during the PM peak periods.

On the Harlem Line:

There are minor schedule adjustments to weekend trains between Grand Central Terminal and Southeast to accommodate a bridge timber replacement project at Croton Falls.

On the New Haven Line:

There will be extra New Haven Line service around the big summer holidays, July 4th and Labor Day. Summer holiday travel specials include three extra inbound (to Grand Central) and two additional outbound (to New Haven) trains on the Mondays of the two, three-day holiday weekends.

Additional express trains to Grand Central will operate on July 4 and September 5 at 5:50 PM, 6:50 PM and 7:50 PM from New Haven, making local stops to Fairfield, then Westport, before going express.

On July 4, two additional express trains will depart Grand Central to New Haven. The first leaves at 4:04 PM, with first stop at South Norwalk. There’s also an extra 11:08 PM train to New Haven (to take you home after the Macy’s Fireworks), first stop at Stamford, followed by all local stops to New Haven.

On Labor Day, Sept. 5, there are two extra outbound trains, the 4:04 PM train to New Haven and a 7:57 PM express to New Haven, first stop Westport.

On the Danbury Branch, substitute bus service continues weekdays from 8:45 AM until 4 PM, and all day on Saturdays and Sundays to accommodate the Connecticut Department of Transportation project to install a new signal system. This job is expected to end in mid-August.
Note: There will be no Danbury Branch busing on the July 4th weekend.

All three lines also have minor schedule adjustments on some off-peak trains to better reflect actual running times and improve operational reliability.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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